Mine-gate.



Nov821L090. PATENTED MAY 8, 1906. N. K. BOWMAN.-

. MINE GATE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10. 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MINE-GATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, 1906.

Application filed March 10, 1 .905. Serial No. 249,428.

To all whom, it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, NEWTON K. BOWMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at North Lawrence, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mine-Gates, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric haulagelines having gates or guardsprojected across them in such a manner as to obstruct the passage of thetrolley and necessitate jumping or spanning of the obstruction, and aimsto provide a novel means actuated by the gate, its support, oradjunctive part to safely carry the trolley by the obstruction withoutinterrupting the continuity of the current to the electric motor of thecar or carrier.

The invention is particularly designed for mine-gates, and is shown inthis adaptation in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aperspective view of a minegate of the type substantially as shown inPatent No. 676,835, granted to me June 18, 1901, equipped with spanningmeans for the trolley constructed in accordance with and embodying theinvention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 1,illustrating the relation of the elements when the gate is open. Fig. 3is a view of the parts shown in Fig. 2 with the. trolley bridge orspanner about in normal position and the gate nearly or quite open. Fig.4 isa detail perspective view of the trolley bridge or spanner and theend portion of the approach cooperating therewith. Fig. 5 is a top planview of the trolley bridge or spanner.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followin descriptionand indicated in all the views 0 the drawings by the same referencecharacters.

The gate 1 illustrated is of the type adapted to open upward in a seriesof folds and attached at its lower end to corresponding operating-arms2, pivotally supported to posts or uprights 3 of a frame arranged ashort distance from the gate. The gate,-its mountings, and actuatingmeans are substantially the same as set forth in my patent hereinreferred to, the gate being typical of the type of uard for which theinvention is designed.

The trolley-line 4 is arranged overhead, and approaches 5 and 6 arearranged for cooperat1on therewith, being disposed upon opposite sidesof the gate 1 and o positely inclined. The space or gap formed etweenthe proximal ends of the approaches admits of the gate folding upwardand is closed by means of a spanner or bridge 7, which is pivoted at oneend to one of the approaches and is adapted to make connection at itsopposite end with the other approach. The approaches are of similarconstruction, and each is provided at one end with a U-shaped clip 8,which embraces opposite sides of the trolley-line 4 and receives boltsor fastenings 9 for clamping the line-wire between side members of theclip and holding the latter in place, the fastenings 9 extending overthe line-wire and serving to close the open side of the clip. The clipmay form an integral part of the approach or be fitted thereto in anymanner. A hanger 10 supports the end of the approach 6 bordering uponthe gap or space and may be secured to the gate-supporting structure orto the trolley-line 4, as may be found most convenient. The spanner orbridge 7 is pivoted either to the hanger 10 or the approach 6. A hanger1 1 supports the end of the approach 5 bordering upon the space or gapand is provided at its lower end with oppositely-inclined portions 1-2to direct the swinging end of the spanner or bridge 7 to its seat whenclosing. The hanger 11 is secured to the trolley-line 4.

The spanner or bridge 7 consists of a bar similar in structure to theapproaches, and is pivoted at one end to the approach upon the same sideof the gate as the arms 2, and is adapted to open downward and to closeby an upward pivotal movement. A wedgeshaped projection 13 is providedupon the upper side of the bridge 7 near its free end and is adapted tofit the angular space formed between the downwardly-flared guides 12.The bridge 7 normally occupies a position so as to clear the gate 1, asindicated in Fig. 3, whereby provision is had for a minimum amount ofmovement. The bridge 7 being positively connected to one of theapproaches is adapted to move in a predetermined plane, so as to makeconnection with the opposite approach when closed, thereby insuring thesafe carrying of the trolley-wheel past the gap or space through whichthe gate moves in opening and closing. As shown, one of the arms 2 isutilized as means for tripping the bridge to effect closing thereof,said bridge opening automatically by gravitative action. When the gate 0ens, the bridge 7 is caused to swing upwar into the position about asshown in Fig. 2, thereby presenting a continuous track for thetrolley-wheel to travel upon and at the same time preserving acontinuity of the current, whereby the electric fluid is continuallysupplied to the motor employed for propelling the car or like vehicle. Atrip 14 is attached to the bridge 7 and isv electrically insulatedtherefrom, so as to prevent charging the arm 2 and connecting parts. Thetrip 14 consists of'an arm preferably possessing a degree of resiliency,so as to yield, whereby the inertia of the bridge may be graduallyovercome when the trip strikes the same in the quick movement of the armincident to the sudden action of the gate-operating means.

Fig. 1 represents the gate closed and the spanner or bridge out of thepath thereof. In t e event of a mine-car or like carrier approaching thegate in either direction the gate-operating means is set in motion andthe arms 2 are moved so as to throw the gate upward, as indicated inFigs. 2 and 3. As

the gate nearly reaches the limit of its upward movement the arm 2 uponthe same side .as the trolley-line and trolley-bridge comes in contactwith said bridge or the eX- tension 14 thereof, as indicated in Fig. 3,and a continued upward movement of the gate moves said bridge upward atits swinging end and closes the gap or space between the approaches 5and 6, thereby providing for a sa e and continuous support for thetrolley, while at the same time preserving the continuity of theelectric current, whereby the motive fluid may be continuously suppliedto the motor. After the car passes the gate and the latter closes, thebridge or spanner automatically assumes a normal position.

Having thus described the invention, what is claime as new is 1. Inelectric haulage lines or systems and in combination with thetrolley-line ate, and gate-actuating mechanism operate by means of theapproaching car, a spanner or bridge located upon one side of the gateand in electrical connection with the trolley-line and adapted to betripped and swung across the path of the gate and make electricalconnection with the trolley-line upon the opposite side of said gate tosafely carry the trolley-wheel thereby without necessitatinginterruption of the electrical current.

2. In electric haulage lines or systems and in combination with thetrolley-line and gate,

oppositely-inclined approaches located upon opposite sides of the gate,clips at the outer ends of the approaches embracing opposite sides ofthe trolley-line, fastenings connecting opposite side members of theclips and confining the trolley-line therein, hangers at the inner endsof the approaches, and a bridge pivoted to one of the approaches andadapted to be tripped upon opening of the gate to close the gap or spacebetween the approaches for carrying the trolley-wheel t ereby andmaintaining continuity of the electric current.

3. In electric haulage means or systems, and in combination with thetrolley-line and gate, oppositely-inclined approaches spaced apart attheir inner ends and secured at their outer ends to the trolley-line,hangers connecting the inner ends of the approaches with thetrolley-line, one of said hangers having oppositely-inclined guides atits lower end, a bridge pivoted to the other hanger and adapt ed to betripped uponthe approach of a car to safely carry the trolley by thespace formed between the inner ends of said approaches, and awedge-shaped piece attached to the free end of the approaches forcooperation with the oppositely-inclined guides of the firstmentionedhanger, substantially as set forth. In testimony whereof I afiix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

NEWTON K. BOWMAN. Witnesses UNA C. BOWMAN, JOHN PoLLooK.

